Pembina Hills Public Schools is in dire need of spare bus drivers, having already cancelled two bus routes this year because of it.
“Honestly, it’s everywhere (across the school division) right now,” said director of transportation Shantelle Haitel.
Spare bus drivers are needed for when the regular bus drivers are unable to work due to illness or because they are going on vacation. They might need to fill in for a day or a couple weeks or even several months, Haitel indicated.
Driver shortages are an issue across the nation. As of late Pembina Hills has resorted to putting mechanics and even division office staff behind the wheel.
However, they still have been so short that there have been delays in pick-up and drop-off times, as well at the two route cancellations.
“We literally had no one to drive,” said Haitel, indicating that students who would normally ride the bus that day had to make their own way to school.
The downside to being a spare bus driver is that you aren’t paid to simply be on call.
While that means the positions are often filled by retirees, Pembina Hills is also making an effort to recruit stay-at-home moms, allowing them to bring their children with them.
“We supply the car seats and everything,” she said. “We try and make it as easy as possible.”
The licensing requirements for a spare bus driver are the same as that of a regular driver, Haitel said. They need a Class 2 licence with a Q endorsement for air brakes and an S endorsement for school bus safety.
The Q endorsement requires one full day of training, while the S endorsement requires about 20 hours. Otherwise, the amount of time needed to get a Class 2 licence varies from person to person.
“If you need a little bit more time, then we give you more training. If you’re confident that you can drive the bus, you can go pretty much right away to do your test at the registries office.”
Drivers must also undergo some background and medical checks to ensure they are safe to drive.
For more info visit the PHPS website or call Haitel at 780-674-8510, or e-mail her at [email protected].
